Over 150 Union County kids will receive gifts this Christmas from the Annual Elkhorn Media Group Toy Drive
By Garrett Christensen on Tuesday, December 19th, 2023 in More Top Stories Northeastern Oregon News
LA GRANDE — Thanks to the huge generosity of the community, over 150 kids in Union County will receive gifts this Christmas.
The Annual Elkhorn Media Group Toy Drive concluded yesterday in La Grande, and it was another huge success.
Organizers Tori Gandy and Shannon McKone with Elkhorn Media Group, send thanks to partners, Les Schwab Tire Center of La Grande, Carpet One Floor and Home (La Grande), Ed Staub and Sons (Island City) and Paul Swigert Country Financial.
McKone says, “it is truly with the help of these businesses that we can make this event such a success. These partners open up their businesses each year and allow citizens to drop off their donations. Giving people so many places to drop off donations really helps with collections.”
“Yesterday, thanks to the use of the Presbyterian Friendship Center in La Grande we were able to lay out all of the donations we received and compare that to the number of kids who would be receiving toys. Doing this means we can get an accurate count of how many toys each child would get. As in years past, McKone noted, we had a huge need for older kids, mainly 11 years old and up. Beyond the donations we received from the community, Les Schwab Tire Center went shopping before distribution to fill in the gaps in donations for those older age groups. Without that extra donation, some of those kids may not have gotten anything.”
Representatives from La Grande School District, C.A.R.E., and Northeast Oregon Housing Authority then came in and “shopped” for the families they serve who are in need.
McKone says, “We did have a few items left once all families were accounted for, and those items were split between Shelter from the Storm and the groups that are putting together gifts for Angel Trees which are usually handled by the Salvation Army. So, every donation goes to a child or family in one way or another.”
Special thanks to the Presbyterian Friendship Center for the use of their building. All involved community partners and the kindness of the community.
